Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-02

Mr.. A. Fulkerson said he had no be.
lief in the efficacy Of the bill, aud
the House is too restless now to con-
slider il deliberately. It should be con-
sidered carefully, and should therefore
be postponed. He was in favor OF any
thing that would obstruct coupons, but
was afraid this bill would not do it, and
he proposed to offer substitute. :.
Mr.. buchanan said the time had
come TO act in order to keep the cou-
pons ont Of the Treasury. We can act
with the bondholders as well after pro-
tecting the Treasury against the Hood
Of coupons in payment of these license
taxes.
The BILL UP.
The House refused to postpone
ayes, 29 /; noes, AZ.
The bill was then taken up with the
Senate bill proposed by Mr.. Pollard as
q substitute.
klr. A. fulkerson offered the follow
IND as subtitute for the whole:
That the county treasurers aud other officers
chsrged with collecting money due the state
on taxes shall return ~ delinquent the ianos
of oil persons who shall fail 10 pay their taxes
by the 18th day OF June In each year IN lawful
money Of the United States, or 10 coupons yeri-
fed and proved genuine, ~ now required by
Law 70 be verified, before they are received Tor
taxes.
lIas act 81 all tie in force from its passage.
Mr.. Fulkerson then moved to recon-
NIT the bill and substitute to the FL
nance Committee.
The House refused TO recommit.
Mr.. Fulkerson then said he was OF
opinion that question raised under
his substitute and adjudicated in the
Supreme Court of the United States
wonld involve the State as State and
not her officers individually (which the
Court held were not the State), and
thus get an opinion that the State could
not be sued, and end the matter for all
time. Then, again, his substitute wonld
result in making the tax-ticket a lien
on all the property of the man
rendering the coupons without veri-
fication, which would, as a conse-
quence, be returned delinquent.
He continued his argument for some
time. going into full details as to the
legal working of the bill. He proceed
ed also to say that he thought 1t dan
gerous proceeding to adjourn for thirty
days and come back here say in May,
at time when the country members
should be at home. He wanted the
bill explained by its friends and its
efficacy shown. He was open to con-
yiction, but could not ot present see
any great merit in this bill.
Mr.. Pollard said that any person
can now, if he chooses, make
the State party to the suit by
verifying his coupons, but they wont
do it, prefcIring to rely on a tenier,
snd this bill attempts to force then to
offer TOR yerification. Whether the bill
will obstruct the coupon is matter
to be tested. If the bill will not OBJ
struct them We will be in no worse DO
sition than we are now; but the bill is
absolutely obstructive, and few people
will stand upon tender when they
know that they will be dragged into
court for so doing.
Mr.. Porter SAID that il was time to
stop passing unconstitutional bills for
the United States Supreme Court to
throw out. We bring ourselves in disre-
pute as legislators. With all due respect
TO the lawyers favoring this bill, ! tell
YOU this is the fimsiest bill yet offered
on this great question. He went on to
show how every case arising under 1t
would 90 into the United States courts
and tie bill be swept out OF existence.
Mr.. Barbour said that We had partly
brought the bondholders TO terms. We
had placed them in an embarrassingposi-
ton, and caused them to ask for COM
mission, sending an equivocal cable
gram, and expressing themselves ready
to take such interest as the present re-
venues will allew and to pass this bill
NAV disembarras the bondholders and
cause them to withdraw.
Mr.. Porter, renewing, said he hoped
that both the substitute and the Origi-
nal bill would be voted down, as they
were not worth the paper upon which
they were written.
Mr.. Fulkerson's substitute was re-
jected-ayes, % /; noes, 40.
Pending a vote on Mr.. Pollard's sub
stitute, which is the same as the bill
that has already passed the Senate,
the House adjourned.
The following business was, however,
first transacted:
COMMITTEE on COMMISSION.
Senator Gordon communicated the
fact that the Senate had passed joint
resolution appointing committee OF
fiye-three from the House and two
from the Senate-to confer with Gov
ernor Lee relative to the inquiry by
cable from the Council of Foreign
Bondholders.
The House adopted the resolution,
and the Speaker appointed Messrs.
Cardwen, Downing, and Pollard on the
committee.
THE SCRIP BILL.
Mr.. A. Fulkerson offered the bill
which was discussed so much last ses-
sion, and known as the "scrip bill, "
which at his request was referred to the
Finance Committee.
LICENSES.
The Auditor OF Public Accounts in
response to House resolution adopted
March oath, reported to that body yes
terday that the total license-taxes of the
State were
7 tcror licenaea a 2Q0. .3f3 "a
Licenses other than liquor. 4ls,55i %
s7i7,s9a 90
Amount received in coupons in pay
ment of licenses under DEGREES of court
during year ending September 30, 1886.
$14, $3.50.
TEE CONFERENCE WITH THE GOVERNOR.
The Joint committee appointed from
the two houses Of the Legislature to
confer with Governor Lee relative to
the cablegrsm received yesterday. from
the foreign bondholders called on his
Excellency yesterday afternoon and
discussed the message. As the impress
sion seemed to exist in the minds of
the bopdhoiders that insufficient time to
consider the subject would be
allowed if the commission were
sent, il was decided, and the committee
will so report to-day, to give the joint
commission ample time to consider the
matter. II the Legislature adiourns,
say Wednesday OF next week, for thirty
days, about twenty-four days-the bal
ance OF the extra session-and the
thirty days recess can be given to the